Electrically-controlled winding mechanism for time-locks.



No. 650,842. 7 Patented June 5, I900. 'w. H. HOLLAR & A L. mmmas.ELECTBICALLY CONTROLLED WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIME LOCKS.

(Application 1116a Mar. 10, 1099. v 4 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 650,842. Patenfed June' 5, I900.

w. H. HOLLAR & A. L. RHODES. ELECTRIGALLY CONTROLLED WINDING MECHANISMFOR TIME LOCKS'.

(Application fllqd In. 10, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shoat 2.

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'Na. 650,842. Patented June 5, I900.

. RHODES.

w. H. HOLLAB ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED WIN ECHANISM FOB TIME LOG(Application filed Mar. 1599. (No Model.) 4 Sheet WITNESSES: INVENTORS:w /u/ou/z/a flL o/vzo L. RHODES, W W w 'No. 650,842. I Patented June 5,I900. W. H. HOLLAR &. A."L. RHODES. ELEGTRICALLY CONTROLLED WINDINGMEGHANISM FOB TIME LOCKS.

(Application madam. 10, 1399.

' (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNITED STATES iPATENT. EE

, WILLIAM H. HOLLAR AND ALONZO L.' nnonns, or PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYTNANIA; sAm nnonns ASSIGNOR TO SAID HOLLAR.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIME-LOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,842, dated June 5,1960.

Application filed March 10, 1899, Serial No. 708,480. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. HOLLAR and ALONZO L. RHODES, ofPhiladelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain newand useful Electrically Oontrolled Vfinding Mechanism for Time-Locks,whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

It is the object of our invention to provide means to wind theclock-movements of timelocks such as are employed upon safes,vaults,dzc.,without opening the latter, such a device being particularly usefulto rewind said movements in any emergency in which it is desirable topostpone the moment of opening originally predetermined by the set ofthe time mechanism when the safe or vault was locked.

Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 545,020 and 545,021 have beengranted to William H. Hollar et al. for devices of the type aforesaid;and our present. invention comprises an improved construction andarrangement of means whereby a plurality of clock 4 movements may besimultaneously wound by a normally-disconnected motor through windingmechanism adapted for independent connection to the respectivemoveme11ts,as hereinafter more definitely specified.

Generally stated, the main features of our invention comprise thecombination, with a safe or vault,of a time-lock therefor having aplurality of clock-movements,'any one of which is designed to effect orpermit of the release of the look after a predetermined interval;winding mechanism. adapted for independent connection with therespective movements, but normally disconnected therefrom, and a motoradapted to actuate said winding mechanism and controlled by meansexterior to the safe or vault.

Our present improvements are applicable to any ordinary form oftime-lock and, although we shall for convenience refer to certain partsof our invention as rewinding mechanism to distinguish the same from themanually-operative winding mechanism with which said locks areordinarily provided, it is to be understood that all of the winding orrewinding operations of a time-lock may be effected by our device to theexclusion of said ordinary manually-operative mechanism.

\Vith the foregoing main elements our invention combines certain adjun'cts--such, for instance, as stop mechanism-connected with therespective clock-movements to prevent the overwinding of the same bysaid motor by effecting the disengagement thereof at the proper instantand a device for indicating or reporting the extent to which therewinding mechanism has been operated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent,diagrammatically, three slightly-modified arrangements of electricalconnections for our invention. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of atime-lock, showing a convenient embodiment of our improvements. Fig. 5is asectional View taken on the line5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4/ Fig. 7 is a sectional View similarto Fig. 5, but showing modified means for engaging the re windingmechanism with the respective clock-movements. Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryrear elevation showing the application of a convenient form of stopmechanism to the rewinding mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detailview of one of the clock-movement pawl-disks. Fig. 10 is a centrallongitudinal sectional view of the stop mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents an electric motor, which, ashereinafter described, is arranged to actuate the rewinding mechanism ofthe time-lock. The electric generator B, indicated as a primary battery,is in circuit with the motor A through connections a a, and C is aswitch by which the operation of said motor is controlled.

As shown in Fig. 2, the motorA is series- I wound and the circuitbetween said motor and the generator 13, indicated as a secondarybattery, includes an electromagnet D, which serves, as hereinafterdescribed, to permit the engagement of the rewinding mechanism and therespective clockmovements upon the completion of the circuit at switch0.

As shown in Fig. 3, the motor A is shuntwound and connected in multiplewith the electromagnet D, the generator B being indicated as a dynamo.

Referring to Fig. 4, A is the motor, (i11di cated, diagrammatically, inFig. 1,) and it is to be understood that the same is in circuit with asuitable generator and provided-with the necessary appurtenances, suchas the switch indicated in Fig. 1.

The motor A is conveniently fixed upon the casing Xof a time-lockcomprising fourclockmovements, respectively indicated at X, X X and X".Said motor A is provided with an armature-shaft A, upon which is keyed aworm A as shown in Fig. 5. Said worm engages the worm-gear A upon theshaft A, which extends at right angles with the shaft A and is providedwith worms A A A. A to respectively engage and rewind the afore saidclock-movements X X X X The rewinding mechanism comprises counterpartgroups of members connecting each of said worms with its respectiveclock-movement. We shall therefore confine the following de scriptionthereof to a single one of said groups.

Referring to Fig. 6, the main arbor m" of the clock-movement X isprovided with a pawl-disk E, which is fixed thereon conveniently byengagement with its squared extremity. Upon said pawl-disk E is mounteda pawl 6, whose outer extremity c is adapted to engage the teeth of aface-ratchet 1" upon the gear F, which is in constant engagement withthe worm A upon the shaft A but is mounted to rotate loosely upon thehub of said pawl-disk E.

It is to be understood that each of the clockmovements X, 850.,comprises an independent spring which when wound progresses itsrespective mechanism to ultimately release the usual automatic boltmechanism at a predetermined instant. In said progress the main arbor 00of the clock-movement X is rotated in the opposite direction to thatrequired for its winding or rewinding, so that although theabove-described engagement of the parts of the rewinding mechanismserves to properly connect the motor A to rewind the spring of saidclock-movement X means must be provided to disengage said windingmechanism in order to permit the aforesaid normal progression of saidclock-movement.

During the rewinding operation of the above-described parts the pawl eis maintained in engagement with the ratchet f by means of the spring 6However, the inner end a of said pawl is prolonged beyond the center ofrotation of the arbor to be con- Veniently disengaged, as follows:

The frame G is mounted for oscillation in the bearings 9 upon the casingX, and the upper bar G thereof extends in opposition to the axes ofrotation of the main arbors and disks E of all of the clock-movements.Said bar G is provided with detents II I1 11 II in alinement with therespective axes of rotation of the disks E, so that said detents areadapted to encounter the extensions 6 of the pawls c to disengage thelatterfrom the ratehetsf when said frame Gis rocked in the bearings g tothe position indicated in Fig. 7. Said detents are in threadedengagement with the bar G, so as to be conveniently adjusted ceases inthe primary assembling of the parts. It

is to be understood, however, that said detents are in fixed relationwith the frame G during its operation.

In the form of our invention shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 the frame Gis normally maintained in position to disengage said pawls e by theweight of the armature A and shaft A of the motor A, resting upon thearm G of said frame, the magnetic center of said armature being in saidposition slightly below the magnetic center of the motorfield. Thecompletion of the electric circuit at switch 0 serves not only toactuate said motor A, but also to lift said armature to the center ofsaid field and permit the frame G to swing outwardly under the pressureof the springs I, so that the respective pawls 6, being thus released,are thrust into engagement with their ratchets f by the springs 0 andthe rotary movement of the motor-armature and shaft is transmittedthrough the counterpart trains of gearing, hereinbefore described, tothe respective arbors of the several movements and the springs thereofrewound.

To prevent the overwinding of the respective springs by the operation ofthe parts above described, each of the clockmovements is convenientlyprovided with stop mechanism consisting of a studj, fixed in relationwith the pawl-disk E, so as to rotate therewith and engage the notchesof the stopwheel J, shifting the latter one notch at each rotation ofthe pawl-disk E until the arm J of said stop-wheel Jslides over theextremity e of the pawl e and disengages the latter from the ratchet f.The wheels J are counterpart and conveniently mounted in pairs inbrackets K, extending from the casing X between adjoiningclock-movements. Accidental rotation of the wheels J is prevented by thepins 7c, which register with sockets in said wheels and are thrusttherein by springs If the respective gearing-trains are synchronouslyoperated and the respective pawls e maintained in similar angularrelation with their respective movements, as shown in Fig. at, it isobvious that the counterpart stop mechanisms above described will besimultaneously opera-ted. It is to be noted, however, that, as indicatedin Fig. 8, said stop mechanisms are entirely independent of each otherand may therefore be operated at different times in accordance with theparticular angular relation of the parts.

In the form of our invention shown in Figs. 2 and 7 the armature A ofthe motor A is arranged to rotate without longitudinal reciprocation,and the frame G is provided with springs I, which tend to thrust saidframe inwardly and disengage the pawls e, as indicated in Fig. 7. Inthis form of our invention the frame G is rocked outwardly and the pawls0 released by means of the electromag' net D, which is opposed to thearm G 01 the frame G, which serves as an armature for it.

As a convenient adjunct to the elements of 650,842 v as our inventionabove described it is desirable to provide mechanism whereby the extentof the rewinding action of the parts may be indicated or reportedexterior to the vault or safe. \Ve have therefore shown in Fig. 4 theterminals L L of an electric circuit, which extends exterior tosaidyault and is adapted to be closed within the latter by means of thecircuit-closer M. Said circuit-closer M comprises a disk, upon which arefixed four studs m, adapted to successively encounter thespring-terminal L and effect the contact of the latter with the terminalL. The gearwheel m, fixed upon said circuit-closer M, engages with thegear-wheel N, mounted for rotation upon the frame 0, which is insulatedfrom the casing X. The gear N is in fixed relation with the gear N, andboth of said gears are rotated by the engagement of the former with theworm A upon the shaft A.

The ordinary clock-movement for a timelock is so proportioned that onecomplete revolution of its main arbor winds the mainspring sufficient tooperate the clock-movement for a period of ten and four-fifths hours,and, as illustrated, the train of gearing leading to the circuit-closerlWI is so proportioned that the studs m complete the circuit through theterminals L L at intervals, indicating that the clock-movements havebeen rewound the extent sufficient for one-half'hours operation thereof.It will be understood that the closing of the circuit at the terminals LL, as above described, may be utilized to operate any convenient form ofindicating device exterior to the vault.

Although we prefer to employ an electric motor to actuate our rewindingmechanism, as above described, it is to be understood that we do notdesire to limit ourselves to the use of such a motor in combinationtherewith, as it is obvious that the precise nature of the motor used isnot of the essence of our invention. Moreover, we do not desire to limitourselves to the details of construction above described, as it isobvious that various modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of our invention.

WVe claim 1. The combination with a time-lock for a vault or safe, of amotor adapted to rewind the spring of the time-lock clock-movement,normally-disengaged clutch mechanism, arranged to operatively connectsaid motor and said spring, and means, distinct from saidclock-movement, arranged to simultaneously initiate the operation ofsaid motor and the engagement of said clutch mechanism, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination with a time-lock for a vault or safe, of a motoradapted to rewind the spring of the time-lock clock-movement,normally-disengaged clutch mechanism, arranged to operatively connectsaid motor and said spring, and means, exterior to the vault, arrangedto simultaneously initiate the operation of said motor and theengagement of said clutch mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a time-lock for a vault or safe, of a motoradapted to rewind the spring of the time-lock clock-movement,normally-disengaged clutch mechanism, arranged to operatively connectsaid motor and said spring, and means, comprising an electric circuit,extending exterior to the vault, arranged to simultaneously initiate theoperation of said motor and the engagement of said clutch mechanism,substantially as set forth.

4. In a time-lock, the combination with a clock-movement, of amotoradapted to rewind the spring of said movement, rewinding mechanismadapted to operatively connect said motor and said spring, andcomprising a normally-disengaged clutch, a movable detent to retain saidclutch in disengaged position, and cooperative means, independent ofsaid clock-movement, to release said detent and engage said clutch,substantially as set forth.

5. In a time-lock, the combination with a plurality of clock-movements,of a motor adapted to rewind the springs of said movements, rewindin gmechanism operatively related to said motor; common to all of said clockmovements but normally disconnected therefrom, clutches forming part ofthe rewinding mechanism, arranged to independently engage the respectiveclock-movements, movable detents to normally retain the respectiveclutches in disengaged position, and cooperative means, independent ofsaid clock-movements, to release said detents and engage the respectiveclutches, substantially as set forth.

6. In a time-lock, the combination with a plurality of clock-movements,of a motor adapted to rewind the springs of said movements,rewindingmechanism operatively connected with said motor and comprising ashaftprovided with worm-gearing trains leading to the respectiveclock-movements, normallydisengaged clutches in the respective trains,and cooperating means, independent of said clock-movements, to engagesaid clutches and actuate said motor, substantially as set forth.

7. In a time-lock, the combination with a clock-movement, of a motoradapted to rewind the spring of said movement, rewind ing mechanismoperatively connected with said motor and comprising a clutch member, aclutch member fixed upon the main arbor of said clock-movement, opposedto the clutch member of the rewinding mechanism, means to normallydisengage said clutch members, and means, independent of said clock-movement, to engage said clutch members, sub stantially as set forth.

8. In a time-lock, the combination with a clock-movement, of a motoradapted to rewind the spring of said movement, a shaft operativelyrelated to said motor and pro clock-movement, of mechanism adapted torewind the spring of said movement, and stop mechanism to prevent theoverWinding of said spring, comprising means to automatically disengagesaid rewinding mechanism at the proper period in its operation,substantially as set forth.

10. In a time-lock the combination With a clock-movement, of a motoradapted to re- Wind the spring of said movement, rewinding mechanismoperatively connected with said motor, and comprising a shaft providedwith a Worm-gearing train leading to said clock movement, a normallydisengaged clutch in said train, and means independent of saidclock-movement to engage said clutch, substantially as set forth.

WVILLIAM H. HOLLAR. ALONZO L. RHODES.

iVitnesses:

E. A. SYMMEs, E. H. BUOHEY,

